Enjoy Fakenham More - that’s the challenge as we today take an exciting new step.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Action from a 5-a-side football tournament held at Fakenham Town FC. Picture: Ian BurtAction from a 5-a-side football tournament held at Fakenham Town FC. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2018)

Over the coming weeks and months, we will be training our microscope on this much-loved north Norfolk market town.

The Fakenham and Wells Times is joining forces with Active Fakenham and you, the public, to produce a range of things, including:

• An Enjoy Fakenham More Facebook group, which is now up and running.

• A double page spread in print in the Fakenham and Wells Times each week, along with increased online coverage.

Fakenham & Wells Times: A scene from last year's Fakenham Christmas Tree Festival. Picture: SONYA DUNCAN.A scene from last year's Fakenham Christmas Tree Festival. Picture: SONYA DUNCAN. (Image: Archant Norfolk Photographic © 2018)

• Coverage in the EDP about the project.

• An Enjoy Fakenham More membership scheme, where members can take advantage of special offers put on by participating Fakenham businesses.

• An Enjoy Fakenham More website, to go live at a future date.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Action from Fakenham Races. Picture: ANTONY KELLYAction from Fakenham Races. Picture: ANTONY KELLY (Image: Archant Norfolk 2018)

Through Enjoy Fakenham More we want to shine a light on the best of the town, including its hidden treasures, places to eat, the characters who make the town tick, its past, present and future, quirky facts and stats - plus a huge serving of nostalgia.

We will produce dozens of videos, focusing on Fakenham, its characters, its locations and its stories.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Fakenham Town Band. Picture: Matthew UsherFakenham Town Band. Picture: Matthew Usher (Image: Matthew Usher)

There will be numerous stories and features on themes including food and drink, Fakenham through the decades, schools, quizzes and much more.

We will celebrate everything that makes Fakenham special.

We aim to help foster a positive community spirit in the town and to build on its successes, including the recent Fakenham Fayre.

Enjoy Fakenham More gives an opportunity for people to promote events, activities, local businesses, sports clubs, groups, organisations and charities that work to make Fakenham a better place to live and work.

Fakenham & Wells Times: Harley Davidson Rally rides through Fakenham.Picture: Nick ButcherHarley Davidson Rally rides through Fakenham.Picture: Nick Butcher (Image: Archant © 2018)

Through our membership scheme and the buzz we hope to create, we aim to boost the local economy and raise the town’s profile.

We believe there is a clear appetite in Fakenham for a positive community-led campaign like this and we need your support to make it a success.

We want to hear your stories, we want you to join the debate on our new Facebook group and to spread the word - it’s time to Enjoy Fakenham More.

The Enjoy Fakenham More membership scheme

The Enjoy Fakenham More membership scheme is a great and very simple way of saving money and supporting independent businesses in Fakenham.

Free Enjoy Fakenham More membership cards will be available to anyone who buys a copy of the Fakenham and Wells Times from NewsKlip, Fakenham, Tesco, Fakenham, Morrisons, Fakenham, Morrisons Garage, Fakenham or Shell Little Waitrose, Fakenham.

Businesses in the town will put on special offers, exclusively for Enjoy Fakenham More members.

These will be displayed on chalk boards outside each participating business.

Simply show the card at any shop or business where you see one of our special Enjoy Fakenham More boards and take advantage of the offers.

Businesses will also be able to display their latest offers on our new Facebook group and offers will be published in the Fakenham and Wells Times.

Active Fakenham

Active Fakenham is working in partnership with the Fakenham and Wells Times on the Enjoy Fakenham More campaign.

Active Fakenham has been running events in the town for five years. The group’s next big event is the Easter Sunday Fun Day, featuring cycle and running races, stalls and food in the town centre.

New initiatives include a photography competition, a duck race and a cardboard raft race.

Richard Crook, from Active Fakenham, said: “I am very pleased to be carrying on some of the good work done by FABCOM and are able to work with local businesses and Archant, to get the new loyalty scheme and Facebook group going.

“We plan to run some local business networking sessions and seminars and have some exciting offers linked to these.

“I would like to thank the many people, organisations and businesses that help us to make these things happen”.

“A laid-back town which doesn’t shout about its successes” - Adam Lazzari - Fakenham and Wells Times editor

I’ve lived in Fakenham for the best part of a decade and am happy to call it my home.

I like the laid-back character of the town and the people who live here, the community spirit and old-world charm.

From taking a walk by the river to Gogg’s Mill Bridge, to listening to the buskers while wandering around the Thursday market to enjoying a pint in one of Fakenham’s pubs, the town offers plenty of simple pleasures to escape the modern world.

Fakenham maintains the quaintness of a traditional market town and doesn’t shout about its successes.

Many who live in the town are unaware of the international level success enjoyed by some of the businesses in Fakenham’s humble-looking industrial estate.

Some of Fakenham’s businesses really are world leaders in their fields. The town’s upbeat modesty is, to me, a big part of Fakenham’s appeal.

• Do you have a story for Enjoy Fakenham More? Email adam.lazzari@archant.co.uk